Celebrating Maritime Heritage

September 25, 2008

Tacoma Tall Ships Organization starts planning for 2011 Festival

The Tacoma Tall Ships® Organization (TTSO) unveiled an aggressive business plan today to raise funds and begin planning for the 2011 festival.

The key element of the plan focuses on short-term actions to raise funds and community support for the organization’s future. In addition to fund-raising, it is also working on launching its 2011 membership program.

"The backbone of TTSO is the overwhelming support we have received from the community – whether it is our dedicated volunteers or local businesses," observed Festival Co-Chair and TTSO spokesperson Stan Selden.

As far as long-term planning, TTSO is committed to hosting a 2011 Tall Ships® festival. "Our research shows that people love this festival, they love the tall ships and they love the sense of community and pride it brings to Tacoma," Selden said. "Tacoma’s history is tied to the sea and when those tall ships sail into the Foss Waterway it brings a special feeling to all of us."

This year's Festival was held July 3-7 on the Foss Waterway and was attended by more than 300,000 people. It was the second time that Tacoma has hosted this triennial event which made a local economic impact of more than $19.2 million. It also generated $1 million in state sales tax and $229,000 in local sales tax revenues. It also enabled the TTSO to donate more than $2 million of permanent improvements to the Foss Waterway.

The Tacoma Tall Ships® Organization is a 501(c) nonprofit that was created in 2006. Its mission is to promote youth sail training, produces events that celebrate Tacoma’s rich maritime heritage, promote downtown Tacoma and the Foss Waterway as a world-class maritime tourism destination. For more information, visit www.tallshipstacoma.com.